MILWAUKEE _ The Mets might have a bevy of infielders on the roster right now with the afternoon addition of Adeiny Hechavarria, but it didn't matter what position anyone played Friday night at Miller Park. Milwaukee Brewers' starter Brandon Woodruff dominated the Mets in a 3-1 series-opening loss.
Woodruff (4-1) was stellar through five innings, limiting the Mets to just the single run on six hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Steven Matz had a solid outing but the margin for error was thin and he got nothing from the bats. Matz made one big mistake in the fifth inning giving up a two-run homer to Ryan Braun. But he suffered from some inefficient innings, getting into battles with a heavy-hitting Milwaukee squad and his pitch count ran up early. He was pulled with two out in the sixth.
In his second loss this season, the lefty allowed three earned on nine hits, walked one and struck out three.
The Mets put two on with none out in the ninth but Josh Hader then struck out the side to end the inning and convert the save. Hader, who blanked the Mets over two innings, is now a perfect 8 for 8 on the season.
A two-out rally gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first inning. After Jeff McNeil was caught stealing and Pete Alonso struck out, Robinson Cano walked and was moved over by an infield single by Michael Conforto. A line drive to right field by Wilson Ramos scored Cano.
Conforto went from first to third on the single but Brandon Nimmo grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
It was one pitch that got Matz into trouble. Matz had Braun at 2-2 and was looking to finish him off with a sinker. But the slugger took Matz back deep and the ball banged high off the wall underneath the scoreboard.
Lorenzo Cain got three straight sinkers and smashed the third one over the fence in left-center to lead off the bottom of the first and tie the game.
After Woodruff exited with the lead, the Milwaukee bullpen effectively shut down the Mets through the final four frames.
